Chiang Mai, Thailand

The city came in at 21st, while Bangkok was ranked 13th in the Top 25 Cities in the World category of the Readers Choice Awards 2014.

“The culinary capital of Thailand, Chiang Mai’s laid-back vibe is a world away from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and the crowded beach resorts of the south,” according to the award announcement. “There are several excellent cooking schools and a popular market scene whose standout is the night bazaar on Chang Klan road – the place to try khao soi, a steaming bowl of yellow curry noodles.”

Six Thai resorts appear in the Top 20 Resorts in Asia category, including the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle Chiang Rai in second place and the Anantara Chiang Mai Resort and Spa at eighth. The Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai is in 20th place.

A woman was almost killed by a python that came out of her toilet last night.

Rampeung Onlamai, 57, had just finished her shower at her home north of Bangkok when a python emerged from her toilet and attempted to drag her down the drain.

Rampeung said the snake sunk its fangs into her right hand and then started pulling her back down toward its toilet nest. Rampeung defended herself with a nearby broom and called out for her daughter, who rushed to her rescue and pried the python’s head off her hand.

The python then crawled back into the toilet.

Rampeung was admitted to the hospital, where she needed 20 stitches to seal the gash.

Samkok district officer Metha Taweekunchai said he’ll order his officers to capture the snake in Rampeung’s toilet, so the family can resume using it, Khaosod reported.

In the early hours of Sunday, a 70 year old British resident of Pattaya suffered a suspected broken arm following an altercation with a car park attendant who was unable to collect a 40 Baht parking fee from him.

The incident occurred at a car park opposite the Diana Dragon Apartments in Soi Buakhao just before 2.30am, which was under the control of Khun Tosapon aged 19. Mr. Charlie Hayward reportedly parked his Bronze Chevrolet car in the car park and left for a short moment to purchase something and then returned to his car.

Khun Tosapon claims he approached Mr. Hayward and requested the 40 Baht which was not forthcoming. He further explained that Mr. Hayward attempted to drive away which enraged the parking attendant who picked up a piece of wood and struck Mr. Hayward’s car.

Mr. Hayward stopped his vehicle and confronted the attendant who then struck the elderly man across his arm. Police arrived and arrested the teenager who was later charged with assault. Mr. Hayward was sent to Hospital and is currently recovering from his injuries.

Recently-regarding to the case that Mr.Benjamin A-Hole aged 29 from Germany who has a big right leg and had begged around Khao Sarn road because he lost his wallet which contained money and important documents was helped by police and the German Help association who gave him 40,000 baht and accommodation. He then fled from the accommodation which had been provided and travelled to Pattaya.

While he was in Pattaya the tourism police found him drunk on the 25th of September and took him back to the Green hotel. In the morning he had fled away from the hotel again.

On 25 September at 13.00 pm Pol.Lt.Arun Prompun was notified that Mr.Benjamin was begging on Pattaya beach in front of Mike Shopping Mall, South Pattaya therefore he ordered the officers to take him to be questioned at the police station. Also the police officers prosecuted him for annoying others before sending him to immigration police to be deported.

In Thailand, the term ladyboy is a nickname for transgender women, and they are a population often met with intolerance and prejudice. Their place in society is explored through photographer Soopakorn Srisakul’s series Mistress, in which he captures the daily life of his girlfriend and four other ladyboys. They all work at bars and as call girls in the infamous red-light Nana district in Bangkok.

Srisakul’s images are his journey in understanding his partner and the others experiences. There are few positions that are hiring transgendered women, so this community typically finds work in department stores, makeup counters, and cabaret venues. Those that are bargirls generally make better the better wages, which allows them to save up for gender reassignment surgeries.

Mistress presents us with poignant pictures of both work and home. There are moments of dark clubs, sure, but there are also quiet scenes in bright bedrooms. Srisakul writes:

They go out working, come back to their room, go relaxing outside, occasionally go back to visit family in the countryside, and then go to work. They, like anyone else, just try to get by. They laugh for joy, cry for sorrow, they work to earn a living, and they have an argument with their boyfriend, just like anyone else. In this sense, what makes them so different from us as to warrant a harsh treatment from the moral society, and do they deserve it at all?

Twenty-six boy and girl scouts were found getting high and doing the sex when officials raided a love motel in Phatthalung province on Thursday.

The sex motel was used as a sex-and-drugs stronghold for the teenagers, according to officials. The students, eighteen boys and eight girls 13 to 16 years old, were identified as students of a well-known secondary school in the district. Clad in their scout uniforms, the students took six rooms at the motel to engage in illicit drug use and sexual activities.

At the scene, officials also found condoms (Be Prepared) and cigarette packs. Drug tests found two male students under the influence of a controlled substance, according to Sanook.

The sex motel will face charges for providing service to minors and may be shut down.

At 00.10 am Pol.Capt.Netithorn Rattanasuchanan-deputy investigation inspector- had led a team of police officers and volunteer police to crack down on lady boy gangs who prostituted around Walking Street, South Pattaya and Pattaya beach.

The police officers aimed to clamp down on crime and drugs in Pattaya especially the lady boy gang that are always prostituting and stealing from foreigners. This behaviour had destroyed the good image of Pattaya therefore the police officers had to crack down on them.

The police officers caught 20 lady boys and took them to police station, recorded their information, and fined them 200 baht ($6.25 USD) for each before letting them go. Plus the officers had detained a group of 5 lady boys and Thai girls who were suspects in case of snatching a wallet on a baht bus. However the police officers will contact the foreign victim so the snatchers can be identified.

The Immigration Bureau has approved a new regulation that allows tourists to extend their stay in the kingdom by a further 30 days, effective from Aug 29.

That will mean holidaymakers from 49 countries who enter Thailand under a 30-day visa exemption can stay for 60 days. Visitors entering on the 60-day tourist visa are still eligible for the extra stay of 30-days as per normal.

The move is designed to boost tourism, said Pol Col Voravat Amornvivat, deputy commander of the bureau’s Investigation Division.

The measure will appeal to foreign travellers who want to prolong their stay in Thailand and visit other Southeast Asian countries, Pol Col Vorarat said. The extension will cost 1,900 baht.

The bureau, however, tightened up visa extension regulations for foreigners who enroll to study Thai in private language schools outside of the official school system, as well as those working in a public charity/non-profit organisation or a foreign chamber of commerce. Those affected will be granted visa extensions of 90 days but for no more than one year.

The police officers revealed that the commander had ordered the police officers to intensify and clamp down on camel gangs after the gangs had annoyed people. In addition they will also clamp down on people who play loud music in their cars.

Previously the police officers had been notified by some local villagers that the Arabian guys had been racing their camels at speed along the bridge. Therefore the police officers arrested them. Initially the police officers had seized the bikes and fined the riders.